So here goes (written by claire again – i will write next time, lazybones)
Well since we last mailed we have done a hell of a lot and are now even in a different state.
The Groovy Grape wine tour was amazing! They picked us up early drove up far into the Adelaide hills, first stop to the World’s Biggest Rocking Horse (Which no, you couldn;t ride) – very random though! And then to this amazing ‘Whispering Wall’, where it curves all the way around and if 2 people stand at each end, and talk it curves around and can be heard so clearly, its so clever! Massive cliff edge one side of it and a river the other! Next up frther into the hills to the Barossa Valley to the first and foremost winery – Jacobs Creeks. We had a mini tour and looked over the vineyards while tasting 7 different wines (i think!) – sparkling, white, rose, red. Then we were on our way to this next winery, a small family run one, same thing, tasted 7 wines. And its all in a very short time so it hits u quickly!! We made friends with a group of travellers our age on the tour too, who were just drinking the wine like us, but there were some more mature guests who were interested in the tour and asking all the questions, and spitting out the wine!!! we just drank everything we could. started to feel al ittle woozy but back on to the bus to the next vineyard called Richmond Grove, a lady showed us around, where they go in the barrells etc, we’re all giggling awaiting the next wine tasting – another 7!! (and they fill the glasses up rather more than just a ‘tasting’!)
Then after feeling quite tipsy, we went outside and had a bbq lunch, ate our first meat steaks of kangaroo, sobered up a bit to go to the last winery, and after those next 7 wines we were hammered! After, we were dropped into a town for half hour look around and we all went straight to pub – bad idea! bus slowly drove back over the bumpy Adelaide hills back to the city (in which we’d all passed out and slept!), then we went back to our hostel and agreed to meet our friends out for dinner later. Stayed awake, tried to keep going, but after a meal and another few drinks, were ready for bed early – and no more wine ever!! WE HATE RED WINE!!
Next day up after our banging heads, to pick up our campervan! oh its just brilliant! you should see us both in this monster of a vehicle, we were slightly apprehensive at first but now its fine! Bit different to our small cars at home!
Got on the road, and decided first to drive up to Mount Lofty (overlooks whole of Adelaide city) – awful weather, terrible fog, rain everything, got up there to the summit view point to look out over – NOTHING! couldn;t see a tree it was covered in fog and whiteness! waste of a trip! Further on we stopped at Melbas Chocolate factory and picked up some goodies! The decided to start making our way to some sights we wanted to see before starting the Great Ocean Road drive, so drove to this tiny town along the coast called Robe. Was about a 5 hour drive and only started it at 4pm. became pitch black, terrential rain, wind like anything, we have never been so scared in our lifes, then – we saw our petrol gauge was on emergency low. million miles from anywhere, no towns in sight, no cars, no people, no light for miles and miles, was like somethng out of a horror movie, really, we both wanted to come home. we felt sick, all the worst that could happen did, and it was terrible. george was close to tears, we just wanted our boys to save us! seriously seriously!!
finallycame to a petrol station, which was a huge sigh of relief except for the wierdo in a orange boiler suit!! horror movie!and eventuall made it to Robe – had booked on advance a site for our campervan (to connect it to electricity and fill up water pump). sorted out van, locked ourselves in and made a nice steak for dinner, with few glasses of rose (well deserved) and then turned it round to our bed! all very cosy and so glad to be there!
After the huge scare, we woke up and decided not to look back, not to let anything stop us from more adventures, we had a swim in the caravan park’s pool and drove on our way to Mount Gambier where we stopped to make lunch and looked out over the very beautiful and famous ‘Blue Lake’. Really was a stunning picture view. Carried on driving, left the state of South Australia to be greeted by a ‘Welcome to Victoria’ sign. Drove all the way through the Grampians Mountain range and National Park, stopped by a picnic site in Halls Gap to find a group of kangaroos right next to us, it was so amazing, took hundreds of pics and got so close to them. amazing!!!! Continued driving through lots of towns and villages and arrived at a city called Ballarat where we’d also pre-booked a sit at a caravan holiday park. Made dinner and early night after spending hours on the road all day.
Waking up to an ice cold van in Ballarat we grabbed our stuff to go for a swim in the outdoor pool covered by a huge greenhouse. We only went and found a massive jumping pillow! So much fun, such big kids, they are everywhere out here. First stop was Sovereign Hill – an olden days village where you can search for gold! Blagging an international student discount again we acted like kids and did everything in a couple of hours, its meant to take a day though. We hunted for gold in the creek, admired the soldiers and nosed around the cottages. Old women which didnt expect suddenly started talking and scaring the crap out of us. We went down the mines which were pitch black and with it just being the two of us we soon squealed and clung to each other, ha. Visited the gold museum too and looked at wicked views down on to Ballarat city from the hill. Drove a few more hours in our fit van and are now in the coastal town of Warrnambool sat in a McDs using computers. This town is at the start of The Great Ocean road which we are going to start tackling tomorrow. The lovely aussie lady at our campsite has pointed us in the direction of a beach 5 mins away to see the beached whales in the morning! Can you imagine. Cant wait. Must go now, we have schnitzel to try and cook in the van, forgot we dont have an oven in it so may be tricky!
Will write again sometime next week after we have driven the Great Ocean Roadand are settled in Melbourne!!! Can’t wait to see the views, look forward to taking lots of pictires for you all.
Hope you’re not all bored, but at least you know what we’re doing! Still bloody cold and we’ve heard Melbourne is worse, but much more to do there!
Love you all,
Claire and George
xxx
